Coalition of Civil organisations (CSOs) in Anambra State has called for the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Queen Elizabeth Agwu over alleged plots to manipulate the forthcoming senatorial by-election in the state.

The CSOs further alleged that the Anambra REC has allegedly prepared the results of the forthcoming senatorial election in favour of a particular candidate and has allegedly vowed to announce the results in his favour.

Chairman of the of the CSOs in Anambra State, Mr Chukwumah Okeke and the Secretary, Mr Felix Okechukwu stated this in a statement made available to journalists in Awka, the state capital yesterday.

Okeke is also asking the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to remove the Anambra REC in order to protect the integrity of Saturday’s senatorial by-election and save the electoral body from avoidable embarrassment.

The group is further asking the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) to intervene on behalf of other parties in the matter and save the situation in Anambra from taking a dangerous dimension as from Saturday.

“We are stakeholders in Anambra State politics and we are familiar with the political situation in the state. We can also state with high sense of responsibility that we are in full support of credible and fair polls before, during and after the forthcoming senatorial by-election in the state on Saturday.

“But, we are getting a dangerous signal about the infamous action of the Anambra REC, Queen Elizabeth Agwu, over her sinister bid to sabotage credible polls on Saturday and achieve predetermined results in favour of a candidate.

“That is why we are raising the alarm over the plot of Anambra REC to rig the forthcoming election for a particular candidate as she has prepared the results in favour of the choice candidate, with a bid to announce the candidate as the winner of the poll, regardless of actual voting on Saturday.

“We are, therefore, calling on the INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to remove the Anambra REC before Saturday’s poll in order to restore confidence and integrity in the electoral body.

“Anything short of Agwu’s removal by INEC chairman will lead to avoidable consequences and monumental failure on the part of INEC to conduct credible senatorial by-election on Saturday.”

The CSOs further called on IPAC to rise up to the occasion and intervene on behalf of other parties, saying that IPAC cannot sit on the fence and allow manipulation and rigging to take centre stage in Anambra during the forthcoming senatorial by-election.

The group said: “The time has come for IPAC to speak on this matter. It must take up this issue with the INEC chairman and ensure the removal of Agwu. Her agenda is to ensure victory for a particular candidate.

“We need a new REC to conduct the forthcoming senatorial by-election in Anambra State to ensure credible polls and avoid unnecessary and costly litigations arising from electoral fraud and manipulations. (Daily Sun)